Skip to main content

Week 11: Muhammad Yunus would like poverty to only exist in museums. Is that possible?

This week we discussed social business in more depth. We learned there are two main types of social business and some of the key defining attributes. The two social businesses are type 1: in which all profits are reinvested in the company, no dividends are paid, and no losses are incurred that strives to solve a social problem. The type 2 social business is a for-profit business owned by the poor that seeks to solve a specific social issue. I found it very interesting that according to Muhammed Yunus, no social business takes any profit for the wealthy investors. If investors receive anything back, then it is not truly a social business. On one hand, this makes perfect sense, however, when thinking about a previous lesson and how to entice investors to the social business you have to be willing to make it comparable to other offers from for-profit companies. It seems to me you would have to choose one plan or the other.  
Week 11 Prompt: Muhammad Yunus would like poverty to only exist in museums. Is that possible?

I am not sure it is possible in the near future or even in the extended future. I believe this is something that would take quite a bit of change in the world. I can only imagine this happening after the second coming. As we know from scripture, things are destined to only get worse until Jesus comes. With all that written, I do hope that we will be able to make great improvements and strive towards a better world where poverty is a much smaller concern because it is so infrequent and there are so many willing to help. We can only help those willing to receive help and I do feel this is something that stands in some people’s way of getting out of poverty. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Week 2: What connections do you see between Jeffrey Thompson’s article, the Gospel, and social innovation?

Moving right along, already in week 2. This week we learned more about how not everyone should be a social entrepreneur but that everyone can have a part in working in and with the solutions that social entrepreneurs create. We can be a help and work to overcome obstacles, help build or volunteer our time/services. I appreciate this because I am starting to see that this may be where I am best suited to be. Which I am ok with. I think that what I am trying to do is to be involved. This week’s prompt is: What connections do you see between Jeffrey Thompson’s article, the Gospel, and social innovation? It is clear that becoming a social innovator is a sort of calling all in itself. However, what I found interesting is that just like in the gospel, we all have a part to play. Heavenly Father will place us in the right place for us to be. For example, I have several times been called to teach in primary. In fact, I have only ever had two callings outside of primary, and both were eith...

Week 10: What is it about hybrids that make them so successful?

This week we learned about how some efforts in social entrepreneurialism can actually become more damaging to the very people they are trying to help than they do help. Evaluating our end game is vitally important so that we can make a plan that will really make a difference and change the course people’s lives are on. It reminds me of the talk from Marion G. Romney, that shared the story of the seagulls and the shrimpers feeding them. They learned that they could just get fish from the shrimpers instead of wasting time fishing for themselves. Later generations were only taught to go the shrimpers for fish and didn’t learn how to fish. So, when the shrimpers left, they began to starve. We certainly don’t want to create this type of environment when we are trying to help improve people’s lives. I feel it does beg to be mentioned that there are those who just need a hand. Perhaps there has been a temporary setback and they need a bit of assistance to get back on their way. In these case...

Week 13: Reflect on your future social innovation goals and The Gospel.

This week we learned about self-reliance, social entrepreneurship and being a disciple of Christ through several church talks and articles. I always enjoy listening and reading those. Self-reliance is something we will always need to work at so that we can continue being it. It is a behavior that is learned through practice and perseverance, not just by reading about it. We can apply it to our personal finances and our business finances. As we work to implement these principles in our professional and personal lives, we will become better at it, preparing for emergencies and planning for the future. I have seen this in my own life and in our business. Being self-reliant also helps us to feel more capable because we become accustomed to taking care of our own needs rather than expecting a handout. Week 13 Prompt: Reflect on your future social innovation goals and The Gospel. For my personal social innovation goals are to support those who are social entrepreneurs. Now that I under...